Visit our web site at www.sunnyridge.org 1

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Join us for the Annual Sunny Ridge Picnic! M

ark your calendars for Saturday, Septem

ber 18, 2010, at Argonne Park in Lem

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11:00am to 3:00pm

. Come picnic w

ith other adoptive families,

enjoy music, gam

es, and plenty of fun for children! See back page for m

ore information and your reservation form

!

Eighty golfers came out in support of Sunny

Ridge on Friday, June 4, 2010. The annual G

olf Outing Benefit featured lunch, golf,

dinner buffet, and a live auction—all in

support of Sunny Ridge. See more inside.

Our M

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build families around the w

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Argonne N

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Lemont, IL 60439

Includes B

uffet Picnic

Lunch!

Come join us for our annual Picnic! Join us rain or shine—

for a great tradition of food, fun, and lots of fam

ily at the Sunny Ridge Picnic. Reserve your place today!

Park entrance is on the east side of Cass Avenue — the Lab and m

ain entrance are on the w

est side of the road. •

Buffet picnic lunch served from 11:30 to 2:30pm

• Bring a blanket or chairs!

• G

roup photo taken at 1:00pm

Music &

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the kids!

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icnic!

Our nam

es are listed above.

Sorry we can’t attend this year. Please accept our donation to Sunny Ridge! $ __________

*PICNIC FEE: This year’s Picnic fees are donation based. Please tell us w

ho will be attending,

and mail this form

in along with your kind donation to Sunny Ridge.

Return this form w

ith your donation to: Sunny Ridge Family Center,

Attention: Picnic, 270 Rem

ington Boulevard, Suite C, Bolingbrook, IL 60440

Join us for the annual

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Adult *

Child*

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E-mail address: _____________________________________________________________

Reservation FormS

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Please Respond by Friday, September 10, 2010

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2 Sunny Ridge Views Summer, 2010

Andrea Poe, writing for The Washington Times, recently lamented about the ever-changing state of international adoption. Poe suggested that in some ways, international adoption has become a victim of it own success. From Madonna to Angelina Jolie, high-profile international adoption cases glamorized this route to parenthood. And, mostly, that was a good thing, drawing attention to orphans around the world.

In the 1990’s, as organizations around the world blossomed to meet the demand, the number of orphans decreased as families welcomed these children into their homes. Only now, some viewed international adoption not as a mission to serve children, but as a lucrative business. As time went on, we heard more and more about shoddy practices, unethical standards, and even child trafficking.

Fast-forward to today, where the number of international adoptions has plummeted.

Governments from around the world have tightened restrictions on adoption, slowing down the process as they re-evaluate their in-country welfare systems. The Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption, signed by 81 countries including the US, was put into place to

A Letter from the President

Family Album

make international adoption a transparent process. The Hague Convention weeded out some of the corruption, but hasn’t helped the slowdown of children being placed into loving homes.

This great shift has given Sunny Ridge the opportunity to explore other means of serving children and families while “planting seeds” in several areas.

Earlier this year we launched a new post adoption workshop offering called W.I.S.E. Up! This child/parent workshop helps equip children with language and strategies to handle questions related to their adoption. Our first Workshop in March was well received and three additional trainings have been scheduled for this Fall.

We are also addressing the need for quality counseling services for adoptive families and children, realizing that adoption brings both unique joys and unique challenges to children and families.

And we are excited to include the addition of Embryo Adoption as an option to interested families. Embryo adoption information is now being included in our general orientation meetings.

Remember that this Summer edition of Views is the only edition that is mailed to your home. The Fall, Winter and Spring editions are sent electronically via e-mail. Please be sure we have your e-mail address so you can stay connected with

Sunny Ridge Family Center

Planting Seeds: New Ways to Serve

2010 Golf Outing Benefit What a great day for Sunny Ridge—as

80 golfers attended the annual Benefit Golf Outing on Friday, June 4, 2010 at the Bolingbrook Golf Club. Sunny Ridge moms and dads, as well as other friends and supporters, came out to celebrate the mission of Sunny Ridge and enjoy a magnificent day of golf, dinner and fun. This year’s Benefit raised over $57,000. Thanks to all our major sponsors for the 2010 Benefit:

Beverage Sponsor: Dr. Bradley Katzmann; Hole-In-One Sponsor: BlueCross BlueShield of Illinois; Driving Range Sponsor: Chatham Rug & Flooring; Contest Sponsor: MBHB; and Bag Tag Sponsor: Bowen & Bowen. This year’s Benefit Golf Outing could not have been a success without the kind support received by our Sponsors. On behalf of the children and families we serve, thank you to our sponsors, golfers, donors, volunteers—and all who contributed toward the success of this year’s Golf Outing!

Sunny Ridge Family Center and receive information on events and programs that may be of interest to you.

This Summer at Sunny Ridge we say good-bye to Director of Domestic Adoption and Birthparent Services, Becky MacDougall, who leaves after 25 years with our agency. Becky has served in a number of roles at Sunny Ridge over the years, but certainly will be remembered for her commitment and tireless efforts in serving birth parents, adoptive families, and adoptees. Becky’s vast knowledge of domestic adoption and skill in coordinating the many facets of the adoption process will be greatly missed. Becky, for your many years of loving service and leadership, we thank you.

Finally, a sincere thank you to those families and individuals who participated in the Annual Fund at Sunny Ridge. In this edition of Views we include a roster of contributors during our past fiscal year. You provide us with vital resources, and your support for our mission has helped Sunny Ridge continue to serve children and build families around the world.

Gary L. Longmanglongman@sunnyridge.org

Our mission is to serve children and build families around the world.

Sunny Ridge Views is published for supporters and friends of

Sunny Ridge Family Center.

270 Remington Boulevard, Suite C Bolingbrook, Illinois 60440

www.sunnyridge.org© 2010 Sunny Ridge Family Center.

Permission to reprint articles must be obtained in writing from Sunny Ridge Family Center.

Sunny Ridge Family Center Board of Directors

Mr. Matthew BobaMs. Joan Bowen, Chairperson

Ms. Yolaine DauphinMs. Lynn Gumina, Vice Chairperson

Ms. Joan KaleelMr. John KarnatzMs. Jinny Koide

Ms. Marlyn Steury

Sunny Ridge Family Center is a not-for-profit, private charitable organization, IRS code 501(c) 3. We rely on the generous support of donors in order to carry out our mission. An audited financial statement is available for review upon request.

Sunny Ridge Family Center is a Hague-accredited agency, and is accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Services for Families and Children.

Sunny Ridge Family Center is licensed as a child welfare agency by the Illinois Department of Child and Family Services (LIC 019976), and by the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration, Division of Family and Children, as a child placing agency.

Visit our web site at www.sunnyridge.org 3

The Klingberg Society ($3,000 and Up)Mr. and Mrs. Thomas McGee Mr. and Mrs. Gregory Springer The Gothberg Society ($1,000 to $2,999)Mr. and Mrs. Jerry CoghlanMr. and Mrs. James GosselinMr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Hollings Mr. and Mrs. Michael HughesMr. and Mrs. William Jones Mr. and Mrs. Steve PagnottaMr. and Mrs. Mark Smith

The Avey Society ($500 to $999) Dr. and Mrs. Robert Baptista Mr. and Mrs. Michael BednarMr. and Mrs. Peter Belair Mr. and Mrs. Renald Clair Biesboer BP Fabric of America FundBP Foundation Inc.Mr. and Mrs. Shawn Burton Ms. Judy Cruz and Dr. Sidney Cruz Mr. and Mrs. William Hawkins Ms. Kathleen Hogan-Morrison Mr. and Mrs. Michael Lynch Mr. and Mrs. Edward Matushek Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Niemeyer Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Placzek Mr. and Mrs. John Steury Ms. Marjorie Willauer Mr. and Mrs. Guy Wilson

Friend of Sunny Ridge ($1 to $499)Ms. Marni Anderson Mr. and Mrs. John Andrzejewski Mr. and Mrs. Bradley BakerMr. and Mrs. William BakerMr. and Mrs. David Balkema

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas BaughmanMr. and Mrs. Thomas BauhsMr. and Mrs. Larry BergstromMr. and Mrs. William BestMr. and Mrs. Eric BeylerMr. and Mrs. David BianchiMr. and Mrs. John BillermanMr. and Mrs. Patrick BlairMr. and Mrs. Steven BoenderMr. and Mrs. Rebecca BolhuisMr. and Mrs. David BoskeyMr. and Mrs. Charles BoucekMr. and Mrs. James BrintnallMs. Marcia BuellMr. and Mrs. Martin ButzMs. Mary CarlsonMr. and Mrs. Philip CarpenterMs. Jackie CavinMs. Diane CederlundMr. and Mrs. Wayne ClaytonCNA Insurance Companies Ms. Barbara ComptonMr. and Mrs. Keith ConnollyMr. and Mrs. John CooperMr. and Mrs. Jeffrey DahlenMr. and Mrs. Douglas DanielsDayspring Pediatric DentistryMr. and Mrs. Jeffrey DesJarlaisMr. and Mrs. Michael DevineMr. and Mrs. Mark DiblasiFidelity Charitable Gift FundMr. and Mrs. Thomas FodellMr. and Mrs. Randolph FosterMr. and Mrs. Stephen GallasMr. and Mrs. Howard GeddesMr. and Mrs. Brian GermanoMs. Ann GibbonsMr. and Mrs. Robert Glowienke

Mr. and Mrs. Gianfranco GrandeMr. and Mrs. Richard GustafsonMr. and Mrs. Gary GuzzardoMr. and Mrs. Frank HampMr. and Mrs. Richard HellerMr. and Mrs. Terry HitchMr. and Mrs. Patrick HoranMr. and Mrs. Andrew HoskinsMr. and Mrs. Scott JacksonMr. and Mrs. John JanasMr. and Mrs. John JellemaMr. and Mrs. Mark JohnsonMr. and Mrs. Wayne KaminskiMr. and Mrs. John KeaneMr. and Mrs. James KerstenMr. and Mrs. Daniel KrichbaumMr. and Mrs. Joseph KroflMs. Victoria KwiatkowskiMs. Cynthia LaughlinMr. and Mrs. Brendan LeeMs. Cristine LiebMr. Richard LifshitzMr. and Mrs. Paul LindemulderMr. and Mrs. Rodney LindgrenMr. and Mrs. Michael LynchMr. and Mrs. Christian MahnkeMr. and Mrs. Dana McDonoughMr. and Mrs. Michael McGurnMr. and Mrs. Thomas MehokMr. and Mrs. Sherman MeyersMr. and Mrs. Grant MichaelsonMr. and Mrs. Mark MondralaMotorola FoundationMr. and Mrs. Peter MrakovichMr. and Mrs. Edward MullinsMr. and Mrs. Steve NovotaOgema Baptist ChurchMr. and Mrs. James Parker

Mr. and Mrs. John PetersMr. and Mrs. James PicardiMr. and Mrs. Douglas PinneyMr. and Mrs. Jim ReynoldsMs. Shirley RiceMr. and Mrs. Keith RockeyMr. and Mrs. Carlos RodriguezMs. Alicia RohrlackMr. and Mrs. Mark RubensteinMr. and Mrs. Edward RylkoMr. and Mrs. Ted SanchezMs. Laura ScaliaMr. and Mrs. Timothy ScarffMs. Julie SchauerMr. and Mrs. Roland SchwarzMr. and Mrs. Edward SeimetzMr. and Mrs. Edward SierackiMs. Janet SingerMr. and Mrs. Gregory SmithMr. and Mrs. Jeffery SmithMr. and Mrs. Lester SommersMr. and Mrs. George StaszewskiMr. and Mrs. Terrance StefanyMr. and Mrs. Mark SterkMr. and Mrs. Roger StilesMr. and Mrs. Emil TessinMr. and Mrs. Richard TheobaldMr. and Mrs. Scott ThomasMs. Sarah VasakMr. and Mrs. Christopher WaberMr. and Mrs. Daniel WaberThe Honorable Bonnie WheatonMr. and Mrs. Jack WheelerMr. and Mrs. Michael WhitesideMr. and Mrs. Kevin WirthMr. and Mrs. William Yurek Mr. and Mrs. John ZittMr. and Mrs. Tadeusz Zycinski

The Annual Fund at Sunny RidgeIn addition to our special events and fundraisers, Sunny Ridge offers donors the opportunity to support our mission through an Annual Fund. Listed below are the names of those

who have contributed to our Annual Fund during the fiscal year, July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2010. Your Annual Fund contribution helps Sunny Ridge serve children and build families around the world. We celebrate your commitment to children, families, and our mission! Thank you!

Sunny Ridge Annual Fund Donors may choose to enroll in one of the Giving Societies, according to their level of giving.

Friend of Sunny RidgeGifts of up to $499Sunny Ridge depends on the support of many in order to carry out our mission. All those who support Sunny Ridge financially we lovingly call “friend.” Friends of Sunny Ridge will be recognized as such in Sunny Ridge publications.

The Avey SocietyGifts of $500 to $999Named after Kyle Avey, the first Sunny Ridge adoptee in 1979. Kyle is the son of John and Carole. Those enrolled in the Avey Society will be recognized as such in Sunny Ridge publications.

The Gothberg SocietyGifts of $1,000 to $2,999Named after Miss Anna Gothberg, caregiver to hundreds of children during her 39 years with Sunny Ridge Home for Children. Miss Anna is an example of a Christ-centered life, given to service of others in need. Those enrolled in the Gothberg Society will be recognized as such in Sunny Ridge publications.

The Klingberg SocietyGifts of $3,000 and upNamed after Rev. John E. Klingberg, founder of the original Chicago-based Children’s Home in October, 1926. The Home eventually became Sunny Ridge Family Center. Those enrolled in the Klingberg Society will be recognized as such in Sunny Ridge publications.

$3,000 +

$2,999to

$1,000

$999to

$500

Up to$499

Complete this form and mail along with your gift to: Sunny Ridge Family Center | 270 Remington Blvd., Suite C | Bolingbrook, IL 60440.

a child in need of a family...a woman in need of compassion... a family in need of a child to love.

Make a gift to the Sunny Ridge Annual Fund and help:

Your gift supports the work and mission of Sunny Ridge—helping children in need a loving family.

Your gift helps provide for free professional counseling to women facing an unplanned pregnancy.

Your gift helps Sunny Ridge work with families to find the special child they long to love.

Your gift helps Sunny Ridge serve children and build families around the world.

Enclosed is my Annual Fund Gift of $__________ My check is enclosed, made payable to Sunny Ridge Family Center.

My remaining pledge balance of $ __________ to be paid:

monthly quarterly other _________

Please charge my donation to my credit card:

Visa MasterCard American Express Discover

_______________________________________________________________Account # Exp. Date

________________________________________________________________Signature

Please keep my gift anonymous. Please contact me about a donation of stock or/and land to Sunny Ridge. My company has a matching gift program. My form is enclosed.

___________________________________________ Company Name

The Annual Fund at Sunny Ridge

____________________________________________Name

____________________________________________Address

____________________________________________Phone

____________________________________________E-mail

Please acknowledge my/our gift or pledge as: (choose level)

The Klingberg Society (Gifts of $3,000 and up)

The Gothberg Society (Gifts of $1,000 to $2,999)

The Avey Society (Gifts of $500 to $999)

Friend of Sunny Ridge (gifts of up to $499)

4 Sunny Ridge Views Summer, 2010

We’ve seen a great reduction in international adoptions — over 45 percent in the past five years. Will international adoption ever return to where it was?Jim Erickson: Not for quite some time. The whole world scene has changed, with a combination of events. The Hague Convention...and also increased awareness on the part of other countries of serving their population within their own borders and culture. I don’t think it’s going to return, but the emphasis will be on agencies assisting other countries in some format that will develop child welfare systems and permanency in their own countries.

Jessica Augsburger: I think we’ll continue to see a change in the type of child placed, such as older children and children with special needs.

What does this mean for families hoping to adopt internationally?Jessica Augsburger: It means that families are going to have a very long wait ahead of them, or they will need to broaden their spectrum of the type of child they are open to accepting. It’s evident that countries, particularly China, are focusing their energy on their special needs programs. Across the board we’re seeing longer wait times, stricter guidelines, and more focus on the best interests of the child.

Jim Erickson: Jessica’s right. It’s a subtle change, but the emphasis is not on the adoptive parents, but on the best interests of the child. We’ve always given lip service to it, but this really implements the “best interests of the child” ... finding a permanent family for a child so he or she doesn’t have to grow up in institutional care. That’s a big difference from meeting the primary need of the applying family. And this will drive agencies to provide a different level of service to those families, and extended support to families who make a commitment to a child who has a range of needs—developmentally, emotionally, physical impairments, some that are very complicated. These can be draining on a family, and agencies will have to support families with coping mechanisms and help change the expectations for families, as to what it means to parent.

So what types of services have we been providing these past 12 months? Amy Trotter: We’ve been doing more post

Constant Change for World Adoptions, Technology, Embyro Adoption, and The Difference You Make

Adoption & Birth Parent Services at Sunny Ridge: A Roundtable Discussion

A roundtable discussion at Sunny RIdge, with staff participants, from left to right: Kristi Taylor, Adoption Social Worker, Jim Erickson, Vice President for Program Services, Amy Trotter, Supervisor of Program Services, Jessica Augsburger, China Waiting Child Program Coordinator, and Becky MacDougall, Director of Domestic Adoption and Birth Parent Services.

adoption work. We’ve seen more families calling asking about needing a therapist. We’ve also done some education to families, talking with them about perhaps adopting an older child.

Jim Erickson: We’ve also made a commitment to serve our waiting families. Our waiting families didn’t enter into the process thinking that they were going to have to wait four or five years. It used to be a nine month wait between application and referral. These are all healthy families, but they need some level of support.

Jessica Augsburger: We’ve offered some waiting family events, where families come in for adoption panels, or discussions with other waiting families. Some families have found this helpful. These are all things we didn’t have to do five years ago, because people were in and out of the program so much faster.

How is domestic adoption changing?Becky MacDougall: I don’t know what the national numbers are, but we’re seeing more and more families who are reaching out to children in foster care who need families. Maybe it’s because there aren’t as many children available, or if it’s because of movements in the church about orphan ministries. We see lots of information out there about children who need families. We haven’t’ tapped into that here, but it’s a big movement. We have families who have switched from international to domestic. They have to be families who are comfortable with birth parents.

Let’s talk about embryo donation and adoption. Why is Sunny Ridge involved and why is this a good thing?Jim Erickson: Embryo donation and adoption is a response to an existing situation. It expands the range of opportunities for a family to choose from. If medically appropriate, a family can consider it as an option. There are some positive aspects that may entice people to participate. For instance, there’s a control issue. You are in greater control of the pregnancy, rather than if a birth mother is carrying a pregnancy, and you have no control over what she’s eating, drinking, doing. And also I think it can be very fulfilling for a family just to experience a pregnancy.

Becky MacDougall: I think a lot of people respond to it in a favorable way because

we’re not creating embryos—they’re already out there. And I think there’s a need out there for those families who have frozen embryos to determine what to do with them, without destroying them. So I think there’s a pro-life angle that resonates with people. Rather than keep them frozen, destroy them, or use them for research, they see the embryo as a life and they know what a miracle that is. And those who donate embryos, they feel like they are providing something for somebody else.

What is the role of Sunny Ridge in embryo donation and adoption?Jim Erickson: Right now it’s limited, but we can provide the home study and provide referral sources to families. We’re eager to establish a relationship with medical groups who are working in that area because its a conduit for referrals, both for the families as well as for us. The changes that are taking place are not just because Sunny Ridge is changing, but rather the system is changing. For many years we were known as domestic infant adoption agency, or international adoption agency, but changes in the system cause agencies to change as well.

Amy Trotter: It’ can be a challenge for families to understand it, so there’s a big education piece. We’ve added it to our Adoption Information Meetings as a possible option for families.

Can you describe the type of birth mother that is coming to Sunny Ridge for help?

Becky MacDougall: Our birth mothers are all different. They cover all ages of child bearing years. This year our youngest served was 14; our oldest was 41. We serve married women, singles, Caucasian, African American, Hispanic. Some are working, some are homeless. Some are living with parents. Some already had children they were parenting.

Any shift in the way birth parents are finding adoptive families?Jim Erickson: Yes, certainly technology has had an impact.

Kristi Taylor: Birth parents and adoptive parents are increasingly finding us online. I am seeing more and more birth parents communicate by text and email, rather than the telephone. Many of my clients use text as the way to get quick information, set up an appointment, or check in. I recently had

a birth mother explore our website and choose a family from our online profiles—before she even met with a social worker at Sunny Ridge. I don’t think this happens too often, but I think it will increase.

Becky MacDougall: I think the ability to search for information themselves, supports their need for privacy, and I think they can focus on a family when they choose someone. Birth parents and adoptive parents are meeting and matching online.

Kristi Taylor: I agree. Facebook, texting, and emailing are the primary ways that adoptive families and birth parents are communicating. I think technology may allow our clients to get the information and support that they want in the way that they are comfortable with.

What kinds of support do birth families receive from Sunny Ridge?

Becky MacDougall: Of course the biggest support we provide is our free professional counseling. We also do a support group every other month, financial assistance to women, such as living expenses, gas, medical, and food. About half of those we work with receive some sort of financial assistance. We give referrals for medical, housing, insurance. One of the most helpful things to birth families is the connections they make with other birth families, through our program.

Is domestic adoption still a viable option for couples hoping to adopt?Becky MacDougall: Absolutely. But, as we always tell couples, they must be patient, and flexible. They need to be open to birth parents and an open adoption ...open to medical issues, open to drug and alcohol exposure, open to multi-racial ...flexible.

What difference do Sunny Ridge financial supporters make?Jim Erickson: Obviously without donations we wouldn’t be able to work with the other roughly half of the birth mothers who choose to parent. We served 68 women this year where we actually met with them. We opened 32 cases; and 21 placed their children for adoption. We deliver the same service to clients who choose to parent as those who choose to place. And it’s very costly. If we had an increase, we could even expand those services. But it’s very hard for people to understand what’s going on behind the scenes in order for one child to be placed into a family.

Becky MacDougall: We provide a lot of care, helping them with practical needs, and all that we do in that area, is donated by adoptive parents who are now giving back. And those types of things make a difference to birth parents. They see that we are taking care of them, nurturing them, during the course of their pregnancy. On top of that, this type of support encourages us as staff, knowing that there are supporters out there working along side us to care for a birth parent. We know there are people out there that really care about our clients.

Jim Erickson: If we’re going to tell birth mothers that they have a choice on how they proceed, and we don’t have the resources, we don’t give them the choice. If they have a choice, then we have to be able to deliver.

Becky MacDougall: It’s better when the support comes from the agency rather than a potential adoptive family, because that makes them feel like they have a choice. There’s no unspoken pressure felt by the birth mother.

Visit our web site at www.sunnyridge.org 5

Domestic AdoptionThe Sunny Ridge Domestic Adoption

program continues to serve all members of the adoption triad at various stages of their lives—educating, counseling, facilitating relationships, working through grief and loss, identity issues, celebrating, providing post-adoption services and searches, and responding to those who need to keep in touch. Since 1979, our domestic adoption program has placed 1,358 children with adoptive families! This includes 21 placements during the past 12 months ... our family continues to grow.

Sunny Ridge provides post adoption contact and counseling services to families and individuals. As our adoption community grows and matures, Sunny Ridge can provide an integral role in the dynamic relationships of our families. Post Adoption Contact and Counseling Services are available to everyone—whether your adoption was facilitated through Sunny Ridge or not. Like our adoption programs, our goal is to give the special attention and respect to each person’s decisions, feelings, and privacy, while offering professional consultation and counseling. For more information, call Linda Segler at (630) 754-4520.

We all look forward to seeing you at the Annual Sunny Ridge Picnic on Saturday, September 18, 2010. In addition to enjoying a day with the Sunny Ridge community, gatherings such as these provide families natural opportunities for talking with their children about adoption, for celebrating adoption, and for meeting other adoptive families. See the back page for your reservation form, and be sure to join us! ... Has someone you know recently asked you about adoption? Sunny Ridge provides regular Adoption Information Meetings, designed to acquaint families with all our adoption programs. These meetings take place every other month on the first Tuesday of the month at 7:00pm, at Sunny Ridge in Bolingbrook. For more information or to register, call Marie at (630) 754-4538, or visit our website at www.sunnyridge.org.

Applications for the Dr. Samuel Louis Segler Memorial Scholarship are now available. The scholarship was established in order to further the education of any young person who is seeking a higher education in a college, university, vocational or training institution. The scholarship is open to Sunny Ridge young people adopted through the Sunny Ridge Domestic Adoption program. This scholarship was established in 2002 by the Segler Family. If you would like an application packet or would like more information, please call Linda Segler at Sunny Ridge, (630) 754-4520. Applications must be returned no later than December 1, 2010. Continued memorials offered, on behalf of Dr. Segler, are the source for the scholarship fund.

Sunny Ridge Program Notes

(Continued on back page)

W.I.S.E. Up!SM WorkshopFor Children in Grades 4 through 6 (Ages 9, 10, & 11)

Saturday, September 25, 201010:00am until 12:00 Noon Sunny Ridge Family Center

Bolingbrook Office Training Room(Use side door entrance; Workshop starts promptly at 10:00am)

Registration fee: $100 per family, or $75 for Adults attending without children

(includes Workshop and Powerbook Workbook to take home)

Sunny Ridge Family Center presents a Post Adoption Workshop:

How to register:Registration is by telephone beginning Wednesday, August 18, 2010 at 10:00am, and continues until the Workshop is full. Call Liz Korose at (630) 754-4528 to register.

Payment for the workshop is accepted by major credit card at the time of your phone registration, or by mail to Sunny Ridge within five business days of your registration.

Sunny Ridge is pleased to offer the W.I.S.E. Up!SM Workshop, a unique and interactive workshop developed by the Center for Adoption Support and Education (C.A.S.E.).

W.I.S.E. Up!SM offers practical tools for adoptive parents and adopted children (adopted both internationally and domestically) to guide them in making choices on how to respond to uncomfortable or personal questions about their adoption. Each workshop also includes a parent workshop and one free W.I.S.E. Up!SM Powerbook ($15 value) per family. Space is limited to 10 children and 20 adults.

China Waiting Child Adoptions Did your family previously adopt a child through Sunny

Ridge? Have you thought about adopting a child from

China’s Waiting Child Program?

Sunny Ridge has the ability to place children from China with

“special needs.” The children are of either gender, tend to be

over the age of two and have a medical condition(s). Their

special needs may be minor correctable issues, or significant

physical challenges. All are precious children in need of

forever families. At Sunny Ridge, finding homes for these

children is part of our Waiting Child Adoption Program.

As of August 1, 2010, Sunny Ridge is accepting applications

from previous Sunny Ridge China adoption clients. Beginning

October 1, 2010, we will open this program to all families.

Due to the nature of the China Waiting Child Program and

how children are matched, Sunny Ridge will only accept 20 families into the program at a time. Once

we have received 20 families into the program, a hold will be placed on new applicants, until spots

open.

The requirements for families in this program are similar to the traditional China program. You may

also learn more about the program on our website at www.sunnyridge.org.

Please contact Jessica Augsburger, China Waiting Child Program Coordinator, at jaugsburger@

sunnyridge.org or (630) 754-4532, to discuss your family’s situation and your interest in this program.

6 Sunny Ridge Views Summer, 2010

Sunny Ridge Program Notes

Save the date!9th Annual

Sunny Ridge Gala Fundraiser Saturday, November 20, 2010

6:30pm, Bobak’s Signature Room, Woodridge Cash Bar Cocktail Reception Silent Auction Dinner/Dance Musical Entertainment

Mark Your calendar — and look for your invite in October. Get your group together, and join us in support of Sunny Ridge Family Center!

Follow Sunny Ridge On Facebook!Facebook users can stay connected with Sunny Ridge Family Center through our Facebook page. Log into your Facebook account and find us by searching “Sunny Ridge Family Center.” Become a fan, visit regularly, participate in discussions, and share on our wall how Sunny Ridge has touched your life through the years. To all our Sunny Ridge community ...we look forward to seeing you soon on Facebook!

Stay Connected with Sunny Ridge!Remember, the Summer edition of Views is the only edition of our newsletter that is mailed to the homes of our friends and supporters. Other editions during the year are sent via e-mail. Do we have your e-mail address? Stay connected with Sunny Ridge through e-mail, and receive our monthly E-News as well as future editions of Views. Receive Sunny Ridge news more efficiently, more regularly, and less expensively! Add your e-mail address to our database by visiting our website at www.sunnyridge.org, and, at the bottom of the home page, enter your e-mail address next to “Receive our E-mail Newsletter.”

Cookies with SantaSunday, December 5, 2010

All Sunny Ridge children are invited to have Cookies with Santa at our offices in Bolingbrook! To ensure a shorter wait to visit with Santa, we have divided families into three groups, using the first letter of your last name, to determine your arrival time:

A through G visit with Santa from 1:00 - 2:00pmH through M visit with Santa from 2:00 - 3:00pmN through Z visit with Santa from 3:00- 4:00pm

There is no cost for this event, other than a kind donation to Sunny Ridge Family Center at the event. Can you please also bring a dish of cookies to share?

NOTE: All parents should bring a wrapped gift, $10 limit, with their child’s first and last name clearly identified so Santa’s helpers can read them. Gifts will be given out in order of arrival.

Help us plan by making a reservation by Tuesday, November 30th. Call Marie at (630) 754-4538, or e-mail mslater@sunnyridge.org. Please indicate how many adults and how many children will be attending. Santa looks forward to seeing you!

Birth Parent Services Sunny Ridge provided services to 68

women during the past year who were making important decisions about their child’s future. Our counselors meet with women from Illinois and Indiana who are facing an unplanned crisis pregnancy. Our staff is available by calling 800-BABY MOM. Sunny Ridge accepts the challenge of helping a woman, often feeling heart-broken and abandoned, to focus on the realities of her situation and accept her role as a mother in making decisions for her child’s future. We want her to make a choice that she can live with, whether it is to parent the child or make an adoption plan. Our goal is to offer adoption as an option, without pressure, in a way that values the life of the child and honors the birth parent(s) in making decisions on behalf of her (or their) child. In addition to counseling, our services may include foster care, pre-natal classes, and referrals for medical care. The women who receive our services are not required to place their children for adoption. In fact, many of the women we serve elect to parent their children. Our program

receives no state funding. It is supported entirely through voluntary contributions, fund-raising events, and adoptive family fees. ...Sunny Ridge foster families provided temporary care for 3 infants for 80 days of care. We always appreciate your support – your prayers, your referrals, and financial contributions. All of these help us to continue providing professional services to children and families in need.

International Adoption Sunny RIdge continues to assess the

international adoption climate, however it remains doubtful that the rate of international adoptions will soon return to what it had been in the past. These issues have also impacted the international adoption community of service providers, as many agencies have closed, merged, or have been greatly downsized. Sunny Ridge has suspended taking any new applications for our direct placement programs. However, we will provide home study services on a limited basis for Illinois and Indiana residents. For more information contact Amy Trotter at (630) 754-4514. Sunny Ridge remains committed to helping our families currently in process, complete their international adoption.

China AdoptionWith the wait time for referrals in the

China Adoption program now at about four years, some of our waiting families are considering other options, including the Waiting Child program. We have now matched 20 children with families in our Waiting Child program since it began in May of 2009. Fourteen of these children are now home with their forever families! Three families are waiting to travel and three families were recently matched. ... On August 1, 2010, Sunny Ridge opened the China Waiting Child Program to new applicants. Prior to opening the program to all families, we will first be opening the program to former clients of Sunny Ridge. If you know any families who have previously adopted from Sunny Ridge that have expressed an interest in adopting from the China Waiting Child program, please let them know that we are accepting applications for our program beginning August 1. Due to the nature of this program and how families are matched with children via the shared list, Sunny Ridge will allow 20 families into the program at one time.

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